Cleaning robot having exhaust air feedback function

Abstract

A cleaning robot having an exhaust air feedback function can utilize the vacuum suction force generated by a suction motor as well as spray exhaust air onto the surface to be cleaned by circulating the air using the suction motor, thereby improving foreign material removal efficiency. The cleaning robot includes a suction unit, a suction motor for drawing in foreign materials from the surface to be cleaned, along with air, through the suction unit, a dust collector for capturing the foreign materials, so that the air is exhausted through the suction motor, and an exhaust air feedback unit for feeding the air. The cleaning robot also includes a spray nozzle unit inserted into the suction unit and placed on the leading end of the suction unit, the spray nozzle unit spraying the air fed by the exhaust air feedback unit, to the surface to be cleaned.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaning robot, comprising:
 a suction unit disposed in a lower portion of the cleaning robot; 
 a suction motor for drawing in foreign materials from a surface to be cleaned, along with air, through the suction unit; 
 a suction motor supporter supporting the suction motor, outlets being formed in both sides of a lower portion of the suction motor supporter; 
 a dust collector capturing the foreign materials that are drawn in through the suction motor; 
 an exhaust air feedback unit feeding a circulating air that is exhausted through the suction motor, the exhaust air feedback unit including
 a rotatable grill connected to the dust collector, placed inside the cleaning robot, and enclosing the suction motor, wherein the suction motor supporter is disposed in the rotatable grill, and 
 left and right air passages, each having one end connected to the rotatable grill and an opposite end; and 
 
 a spray nozzle unit placed on a leading end of the suction unit, the spray nozzle being connected to the opposite end of the left and right air passages, the spray nozzle unit spraying the circulating air fed by the exhaust air feedback unit onto the surface to be cleaned. 
 
     
     
       2. The cleaning robot according to  claim 1 , further comprising connecting passages disposed between the exhaust air feedback unit and the spray nozzle unit. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning robot according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the left and right air passages has a vent hole and a knob to open or close the vent hole. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning robot according to  claim 2 , wherein the spray nozzle unit includes:
 a housing having a slope on a lower surface portion thereof; 
 connecting sections arranged on either side of an upper part of the housing, each of the connecting sections connected to a corresponding one of the connecting passages; 
 a plurality of air guides dividing an interior of the housing into a plurality of spaces and extending from the connecting sections to a lower portion of the housing; and 
 a plurality of air spray passages defined by the air guides. 
 
     
     
       5. The cleaning robot according to  claim 4 , wherein the spray nozzle unit further includes partitions disposed on lower ends of the air guides and placed inside the housing of the spray nozzle, the partitions defining buffer areas, each of the buffer areas being arranged between adjacent air spray passages. 
     
     
       6. The cleaning robot according to  claim 5 , wherein the spray nozzle unit further includes a spray regulator adjusting a size of exit holes arranged in lower ends of the air spray passages. 
     
     
       7. The cleaning robot according to  claim 6 , wherein the spray regulator is laterally slidable. 
     
     
       8. The cleaning robot according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the spray regulator includes:
 left and right spray regulating plates disposed outside the housing in a laterally slidable fashion, each of the left and right spray regulating plates having openable holes in a bottom surface thereof, the openable holes having a size equal with that of the exit holes; 
 left and right operation buttons, each of which has a distal slope in contact with either one of the left and right spray regulating plates and a top portion protruding out of the cleaning robot; and 
 operation springs, each of which has one portion supported on either one of the left and right spray regulating plates and an opposite portion supported on the suction unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The cleaning robot according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the spray regulator includes:
 left and right spray regulating plates disposed outside the housing in a laterally slidable fashion, each of the left and right spray regulating plates having openable holes in a bottom surface thereof, the openable holes having a size equal with that of the exit holes; and 
 left and right movable buttons, each of which has a bottom portion integrally connected to an end of a corresponding one of the left and right spray regulating plates and a top portion protruding out of the cleaning robot. 
 
     
     
       10. The cleaning robot according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction unit includes:
 a suction unit body disposed on an underside of a body of the cleaning robot; 
 an insert recess for receiving the spray nozzle unit, the insert recess formed in a leading end of the suction unit body; 
 a suction hole formed in a central portion of the suction unit body; and 
 an anti-dispersion belt placed behind the suction hole and extending down from a rear portion of the suction unit body. 
 
     
     
       11. The cleaning robot according to  claim 1  or  10 , wherein the suction unit includes side nozzle units disposed on both sides thereof, wherein the side nozzle units are connected to the exhaust air feedback unit to exhaust the circulating air toward the suction hole. 
     
     
       12. The cleaning robot according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the side nozzle units includes:
 a side nozzle placed on either side of the suction unit and having a nozzle hole in a lower portion thereof, the nozzle hole directed toward the suction unit; and 
 an auxiliary air passage connected at one end to the side nozzle and at an opposite end to a corresponding one of the left and right air passages of the exhaust air feedback unit.